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Defense with the edge in Oxford

It was a big Tuesday for the Ole Miss football program, as the team worked in full pads for the first time this preseason and learned afterward that Temario Strong has been admitted and cleared to join the team.

A freshman defensive lineman from Batesville, Miss., Strong is expected to arrive on campus this evening. The South Panola High School product was a two-time selection to The Clarion-Ledger All-State Team.

"I'm thrilled for Temario," said Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze. "I know he is excited to get here, and our team can't wait to make him a part of this family."

The morning saw the Rebel players train for two and a half hours in pads under hot, sunny skies. Freeze said the receivers and secondary were the bright spots of the fifth practice of preseason camp.

“One-on-one red zone, I thought our receivers were fantastic. That was an exciting drill for them,” Freeze said. “I was hoping we’d get to show that in a team setting but we will get to that point. Defensively, I think the secondary continues to play with a little swagger and a chip on their shoulder. Most of our experience lies with the defense and they can hopefully carry us early on so we can catch up. If they can keep getting turnovers like they have in practice we will be alright and it will give us chances.”

Individually, defensive back Senquez Golson, who played in 12 games with four starts last year as a freshman, has impressed Freeze with his athletic ability and drive.

“I think he is going to be good,” Freeze said. “I think he is doing a good job and he is playing with a great attitude and passion. He has the athletic ability to play at this level.”

Freeze talked about the need for consistency when it comes to taking care of the ball.

“We don’t know how to take care of the ball and we are really struggling at quarterback,” he said. “We need some consistency. Some of the not taking care of the ball is decision making and some is protection issues but some of those we just awful decisions. I don’t expect us to ever make those kind of decisions but I’m not surprised that we are inconstant. We can be inconsistent but not make a decision that kills your football team which is what happened today in several cases.”

Freeze was pleased with the energy of the defense and how the offense worked through their daily install period.

“I thought the defense had great energy and I thought the offense did great in that install period,” he said. “We have an install period every day and we got some of our stuff in we really like and offense won that period. But, when it got down to the team stuff, defense dominated again.”

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